Gorman Road subdivision approved, despite overdevelopment fears

By
DANIELLE CETINSKI

APPROVED: Councillors have approved a 37-lot subdivision at 76 Gorman Road despite a requested redesign failing to address character and environmental concerns.

ORANGE City Councillors have approved a 37-lot subdivision at 76 Gorman Road despite a requested redesign failing to address character and environmental concerns.

The subdivision will include 36 residential lots, ranging from 2000-3367 square metres, and a public reserve.

Councillors requested a redesign last year due to the visual impact on neighbouring land to the north and west.

During discussions on Tuesday night, councillor Neil Jones said the applicant had kept to the 2000 square-metre minimum lot size, making no effort to gradually reduce the sizes from the surrounding two-hectare allotments.

“If we look at what has come back, it’s little different. We had good grounds to seek that redesign,” he said.

“The planners have considered a number of environmental issues and the conditions will go a long way to preserving the remainder of the trees, but it doesn’t get away from the basic fact that the applicant has not responded to the issues.

“In my view, it is an overdevelopment of the site.”

Councillor Jeff Whitton said while the developer had not been co-operative the proposal still met the requirements.

The developer will have to increase the no-building buffer, add additional screening and establish tree preservation zones on certain lots as conditions of approval.